Collapsible case



Oct. '11, 1927.

G. A. BENDER COLLAPSIBLE CASE Filed Oct. 28, 1925 IN V EN TOR.-

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

GEORGE A. BENDER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

C'OLLAPSIBLE CASE.

Application filed October 28, 1925. Serial No. 65,383.

My invention relates to shipping. cases, more particularly to collapsible shipping cases, and has for its general object to pro vide a simple and efficient case which may be expeditiously and conveniently set up for shipping or folded in a most compact form for reshipping. And to these ends theinvention consists in providing the crate with a plurality of hingedly connected sections so connected and arranged that the crate can be securely locked in either the setup or knocked-down position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of arts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ship ping case in its set-up position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line Il-II, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the case in the knocked-down or folded position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the collapsible portion of the side wall of the case.

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary perspective view of side wall securing members.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 clenotes the bottom of the case, provided with fixed front and rear side wall portions 2 and 3 respectively, and with fixed end wall portions 4 and 5. The bottom 1 and the fixed side wall portions2 and 3 and the fixed end wall portions 4 and 5, are substantially reenforced by corner plates 6. The side wall portions 2 and 3 are of less height than the end wall portions 4 and 5 and are positioned between the latter.

The fixed end wall portion 4 is connected with a hinged end wall portion 7 by a pair ofhinges 8, and the fixed end wall portion 5 is connected with a hinged end wall portion 9 by a pair of hinges 10. The hinges 8 and 10 are disposed on the inner side of respective end wall portions and permit of the hinged end wall portions 7 and 9' to be folded inwardly toward each other in a man.- ner hereinafter described.

A pair of angle bars 11 is carried by each of the hinged end wall portions 7 and 9, by having the bar portions 12 riveted to the outer marginal side edges thereof. The bar portions 13 are formed. with inwardly disposed ears 14 which are, preferably stamped directly from the former. The ears 14 are vertically aligned, relativelyto each other and are attached at their lower ends and free at their upper ends. The lower ends 13 of the bar portions 13, extendbelow the tops of respective fixed side wall portions 2 and 3, for the purpose of providing a more substantial structure.

The fixed front side wall portion 2 is connected to a hinged side Wall, portion 15, by means of a pair of hinges 16, and the fixed'rear side wall portion 3 is connected to a hinged side wall portion 17 by means of a pair of hinges 18.

The hinges 16 and 18 are positioned on the inner face of the side walls and the lower strap 19 of each carries a fixed pin 20, which latter is shiftably connected inthe vertically disposed el-nogated slot 21 formed in the plate 22. ,The plate 22 is fixed on the inner face of respective fixed side wall portions 2 and 3. The upper strap 23, of each of the hinges 16 and 18, is formed with an elongated slot 24. through which extends the headed pin 25. The latter is fixed to a plate 26 secured to respective hinged side wall portions 15 and 17.

The hinged front side wall portion 15- consists of a pair of sections 27 and 28, and the hinged rear'side' wall portion 17 consists of a pair of sections 29 and 30. The sections 27 and 28 are connected by a pair of hinges 31, and the sections 27and 30 are connected by a pair'of hinges 32. P The hinges 31'and 32 are disposed on the outer face of respective side wall sections.

The cover 33 consists preferably of a pair of sections 34 and 35, which are connected together by a pair of hinges 36 disposed on the inner face thereof. H The cover section 35 is connected to the top rear side wall section 29 by a pair of inwardly disposed hinges 37. The strap 38, of each of the hinges 37, is formed with an elongated slot 39, through which extends aheaded pin- 40. The latter is fixed to a plate 41 secured to the under face of the cover section 35.

\ A connecting plate 42 is fixed to the outer side of and adjacent to each end of side wall" sections 27 and 29, and a connecting. plate 43 is'fixed to the outer side of and adjacent to each end of the sidewall sections 28 and 30. The plates 42 and 43 at the ends of as- V V sociated side wall sections. are vertically aligned relatively to each other, and are providedwith vertically aligned bayonet slots 44, positioned over cavities formed in respec tiveside wall sections. The cars 14, of'the bar portions 13 are adapted toengage in the slots 44 for-securing thehinge'd side wall portions lfi and17 andthe hinged end wall portions 7 and 9in the erected position.

A pair of rounded catches 45 are fixed to the outer sideof each of the fixed side wall portions'2 and 3. The catches 45 are disposed adjacent to the upper end of the fixed side wall portions 2 and 3 and are adapted to be respectively engaged in the apertures '46, formed in the upper ends of the barportions13, for locking the case in the collapsed The cover 33 is disposed between the i hinged end wall portions 7 and 9 and is seginal top edge of the wall port-ions 7 and 9 cured in the closed position by a plurality of screws 47, threadably mounted inthe marand engaging" threaded apertures 48 formed in respective end edges of the cover 33;

The case is folded together in the following mannerz The cover 33 is first opened'by releasing the screws 47. By pulling the front hinged side-portion 15 upwardly a distance permitted by thejslots 24 inthe hinges 16,the 'slots 44 will disengage the ears14. The front hinged side wall portion 15' may now be swung inwardly on the hinges l6, and forced adjacent to the bottom 1 due 'to the shiftable connection of the hinge strapl9 withtheelongated slot 21.

The side wall section 27 is then tu rnedback on the hinges 31 tooverlap the side wall section 28. YVhen the front hinged side wall portion 15 is folded in this manner the top thereof will be below the even plane of the top'edge of the fixed front side wall por- 7 tion 2.

The rear hinged side wall portion 17 is folded together in a manner identical to that described herein relatively to the front hinged side wall portion 15. V I v The cover 33 is forced rearwardly distance permitted by the slots 39 in the hinge straps 38 to allow the inner marginal rear side edge of the cover 33 to seat on the top edge of the rear fixed side wall 3, while the inner marginal front edge of the cover 33 seats on the top edge of the front fixed side wall 2. The hinged end wall portions 7 and 9 are now swung inwardly toward each other on top of the cover 33, and the bar apertures a pair,

bottom and of an upper portion hingedly connected to the fixed lower portion thereof, each of said pair of side walls consistingof a 'fixed lower portion? and shiftable, foldableupper portion, a shiftable hinged connection-slidably connected to the lower side wall portion and having the upper side wall portion slidably connected therewith and providing'for the upward shifting of-said upper portion to release it from set osition and the downward shifting thereo on the lower side wall portion to permit of the upper side wall vportion folding inwardly with respect to the lower portion, thefupper portion of each of said side walls consisting of two sections hinged together, a cover having a shiftablehinged connection with one of said sidewalls, means for detachably securing the hinged portions of said end and side walls in upright position, and means for locking said cover in the closed position.

2. In combination, a collapsible .case comprising a bottom" provided with fixed side wall portions and with fixed end wall portions, said fixed .end wall portions being of a greater height than said fixed sidewall portions, an upper-end wall portion hing edly connected to each of said fixed end wall" portions, a pair-of upper side wallportions,la pair of hingesconnecting each 'of said pair of upper side wall portions with respective fixed side wall portions, said pair of hinges having a shiftable connection with said fixedside wall portions and said upper side wall portions having'a shiftable connection'relatively to said pair of hinges, and

these latter providing for the'upward :shifting of said upper side wall portions torelease them from set position and for the downward shifting thereof on the lower. side wall portions to permit of the upper side wall portions being nested, each of said upper sidewall portions consisting of a air 0 sections hingedly connected toget er,

means carried by said upper end wall pore tions and engaging said upper side wall portions for detachably securing the latter and said upper end wall portions in the erected position, means carried by said upper end Wall portions and engaging respective fixed side Wall portions for locking the case in the folded position, a cover, a pair of hinges connecting said cover with one of said pair of upper side Wall portions, said cover having a shiftable connection relatively to the associated pair of hinges, and means carried by said upper end wall portions and engaging said cover for lockingthe latter 10 in the closed position, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEOARGE A. BENDER. 

